The Use of an Elisa Milk Progesterone Test as an Aid to Oestrus Prediction in Dairy Cows

Abstract

Oestrus detection in dairy cows has been the subject of many studies and various methods of improving oestrus detection have been investigated and reviewed by Boyd ( 1984). Poor oestrus detection will extend the calving to conception interval by prolonging both the calving to first service and first service to conception intervals (Eddy 1980). The availability of a commercially produced enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test kit (Ovucheck; Cambridge Veterinary Sciences) stimulated the setting up of trials to study oestrus detection rates and detection efficiency after first service. This paper reports the results of these trials. Trial 1 demonstrated that the E.I.A. for progesterone could be readily performed in the practice laboratory and Trial 2 demonstrated that similar improvements in accuracy and detection rates could be achieved by alternate day sampling. Oestrus detection remains a problem in many large dairy herds using artificial insemination and these trials demonstrate a place for oestrus prediction using E.I.A.